Egg grasp device having interlaced members, and associated systems and methods

ABSTRACT

An egg grasp device is provided. Such a device includes a body and a plurality of elongated members extending from the body. The elongated members are interlaced to form a sheath capable of retaining an egg. The sheath has a distal end and a proximal end at which the elongated members are operably engaged with the body. The elongated members cooperate to define an opening at the distal end through which an egg is received when the elongated members engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is seated within the sheath. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/461,855, filed Feb. 22, 2017, which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to egg processing devices. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to an egg grasp devicecapable of providing flexibility to grasp eggs of various shapes, sizes,and orientations, and associated systems and methods.

BACKGROUND

Various mechanical egg processing systems may be used to process avianeggs within a poultry hatchery facility or other egg processing facility(e.g., table eggs). In a hatchery, such mechanical egg processingsystems may include, for example, a transfer system for transferringeggs from a tray associated with a setter incubator (commonly referredto as a “flat”) to a container associated with a hatcher incubator(commonly referred to as a “hatching basket”). In other instances, anexample of such mechanical egg processing systems may include an eggremoval system for removing certain eggs from the flats. In the case ofegg removal systems, it is common practice to remove non-live eggs fromlive eggs to increase available incubator space, to reduce the risk ofcontamination, and to save vaccine costs related to in ovo inoculations.In a facility processing table eggs, the eggs may be mechanically ormanually moved for a variety of reasons.

In a hatchery, eggs designated as non-live may be removed by hand or viaan automated egg removal device. Such egg removal device may employmechanical means that can crack eggs during engagement therewith. Inother instances, automated egg removal devices may employ suction-typelifting devices employing vacuum systems that require additionalmechanisms and power requirements to function. Furthermore, suchsuction-type lifting devices may be difficult to maintain and clean,particularly after engaging a non-viable egg (infertile or containing adead embryo) that explodes due to bacterial build-up within the egg.Additionally, the polymer-based suction cup may become deformed aboutthe lip area after continuous use, thereby affecting the suction andlifting ability of the lifting device. In addition, the suction-typelifting devices do not straighten eggs oriented at an angle in the eggflat.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an egg grasp device andassociated system capable of capturing eggs in a simplified manner andhaving the flexibility to account for eggs of various shapes, sizes, andorientations, and further optionally providing the additional functionof straightening eggs oriented off-axis. Furthermore, it would bedesirable to provide an associated method that would simplify andfacilitate improved securement of eggs.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by aspects of the present disclosurewhich, according to one aspect, provides an egg grasp device having abody and a plurality of elongated members extending from the body. Theelongated members are interlaced to form a sheath capable of retainingan egg. The elongated members cooperate to define an opening throughwhich an egg is received when the elongated members engage and deflectabout an egg such that the egg is seated within the sheath.

Another aspect provides an egg processing system having a headconfigured to ascend and descend. A plurality of egg grasp devices isoperably engaged with the head. Each egg grasp device has a plurality ofelongated members interlaced to form a sheath capable of retaining theegg. The elongated members cooperate to define an opening through whichthe egg is received when the elongated members engage and deflect aboutan egg such that the egg is seated within the sheath.

Yet another aspect provides a method of securing eggs. The methodcomprises descending an egg grasp device to interact with an egg, theegg grasp device having a plurality of elongated members interlaced toform a sheath capable of retaining the egg, and the elongated memberscooperating to define an opening through which the egg is received. Themethod further comprises contacting the sheath with the egg at theopening. The method further comprises seating the egg within the sheathby deflecting elongated members about the egg. The method furthercomprises ascending the egg grasp device. According to one aspect, themethod further comprises releasing the egg from the sheath by actuatinga release device.

Still another aspect provides an egg removal system having a rotatabledrum assembly. The egg transport system further includes a plurality ofegg grasp devices operably engaged with the rotatable drum assembly.Each egg grasp device has a plurality of elongated members interlaced toform a sheath capable of retaining the egg. The elongated memberscooperate to define an opening through which the egg is received whenthe elongated members engage and deflect about an egg such that the eggis seated within the sheath.

Thus, various aspects of the present disclosure provide advantages, asotherwise detailed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described various embodiments of the present disclosure ingeneral terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an egg processing systemcapable of implementing a plurality of egg grasp devices, according toone aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of an egg grasp device, accordingto one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of the egg grasp device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom schematic view of the egg grasp device shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the egg grasp device shown in FIG. 2, with anegg seated within the egg grasp device;

FIG. 6 illustrates a deflection sequence of an egg grasp device in whicha plurality of elongated members are capable of deflecting outward toaccommodate eggs of various sizes, shapes and orientations, according toone aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an egg grasp device having a plurality ofdeflectable elongated members, illustrating a formed flower pattern whenthe elongated members are deflected outward;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an egg grasp device engaging an egg at atilted orientation within an egg flat;

FIG. 9 is a side view of an egg grasp device having a plurality ofelongated members, according to another aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates an egg seating sequence in which an egg grasp devicehaving a shroud seats an egg, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an egg removal system having a rotatabledrum assembly and egg grasp devices affixed thereto, according to oneaspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various aspects of the present disclosure now will be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all aspects of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, thisdisclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the aspects set forth herein; rather, theseaspects are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The present disclosure is directed to devices, systems and methodsconfigured to grasp eggs for subjecting the eggs to various processes.According to some aspects, the present disclosure providesvacuumless/suctionless means for grasping and transporting eggs. Theterms vacuumless/suctionless refer to the lack of vacuum or suctionneeded to interact with an egg in order to secure said egg fortransport. Instead, aspects of the present disclosure provide physicalengagement means for capturing an egg. Such vacuumless/suctionlessaspects of the present disclosure provide many advantages, includingsimplifying the means for securing eggs, improving ease of maintenance,improving reliability, and improving adaptability to grasp eggs ofvarious sizes, shapes, and orientations. In this regard, the problem tobe solved relates to seeking gentler mechanical handling of eggs,particularly with respect to those containing live embryos, in which therisks of cracking are reduced by providing a solution in whichadaptability is provided for capturing eggs of various shapes and sizesand positioned at various orientations.

FIG. 1 illustrates an automated egg processing system 100. According tothe particular aspect shown in FIG. 1, the egg processing system 100 iscapable of removing and/or transferring eggs. Aspects of the presentdisclosure, however, are not limited to the illustrated egg processingsystem 100 of FIG. 1. Aspects of the present disclosure may beimplemented on any system or apparatus in which securement of eggs isdesired. For example, aspects of the present disclosure may beimplemented on an egg transfer system used to transfer eggs from asetter incubator tray (a so-called “egg flat”) to a hatch incubator tray(a so-called “hatching basket”).

As shown in FIG. 1, the egg processing system 100 may be particularlyadapted for removing eggs positioned within an egg flat, which includesa plurality of receptacles for individually receiving and maintainingeggs in a generally vertical orientation, although the eggs may often betilted to varying degrees within the individual receptacles. Examples ofsuitable commercial flats include, but are not limited to, a“CHICKMASTER 54” flat, a “JAMESWAY 42” flat and a “JAMESWAY 84” flat (ineach case, the number indicates the number of eggs carried by the eggflat). Using the egg processing system 100, all or selected eggs may beremoved from an egg flat when positioned below an egg processing head200.

According to some aspects, the egg processing system 100 may include aframe 110 and a conveyor assembly 112 provided to move egg flats in anautomated manner through the egg processing system 100 to a removalposition. The conveyor assembly 112 may include a guide rail systemconfigured to receive and guide egg flats to the removal position. Theconveyor assembly 112 may further include appropriate stop elements,sensors, belts, endless loops, motors, etc. for proper indexing andpositioning of egg flats within the egg processing system 100. In someinstances, egg flats may be manually advanced through the egg processingsystem 100.

Eggs entering the egg processing system 100 via egg flats may havevarying classification characteristics. For example, egg flats mayinclude eggs that are classifiable based on viability, pathogen content,genetic analysis, or combinations thereof. As such, eggs are passedthrough an egg classifier system to generate a classification for eachegg contained in an egg flat. Such eggs may be classified as viable ornon-viable (i.e., those eggs not containing a viable embryo according tothe egg classifier system), wherein the non-viable eggs may be furthersub-classified as, for example, infertile, rotten, or dead eggs.Exemplary egg classifier systems may be capable of classifying the eggsby using, for example, candling techniques (opacity, infrared, NIR,etc.), assaying techniques, or other known and suitable classificationmethods, processes, or techniques. After classification, the eggs may beremoved accordingly from the egg flat using the egg processing system100 according to the identified classification, such as, for example,removing non-viable eggs from the egg flat.

As shown in FIG. 1, the egg processing system 100 may include the eggprocessing head 200 coupled to the frame 110. According to aspects ofthe present disclosure, the egg remover head 200 may include a pluralityof egg grasp devices 500, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, capable of selectivelyor non-selectively seizing eggs from the egg flat. In some instances,the egg processing head 200 may include a plate 220 to which the egggrasp devices 500 are secured, coupled, or otherwise engaged. Accordingto some aspects, the plate 220 may define a plurality of holes forreceiving the egg grasp devices 500. In some instances, the egg graspdevices 500 may be selectively or individually controlled. That is, theegg grasp devices 500 may be selectively deployed such that interactionthereof with respective eggs may be selectively controlled. For example,the egg grasp device 500 may be configured to selectively engagingrespective eggs such that only those eggs identified as a first subset(e.g., as live or viable) of eggs are contacted for removal or transferfrom the egg flat. In such instances, a second subset (e.g., non-live ornon-viable) of eggs may remain in the egg flat for further processingwithout contact from any of the egg grasp devices 500.

According to some aspects, the conveyor assembly 112 may transport eggsstored in the egg flat past the egg classifier system so that each eggpasses therethrough such that data (egg classification status) may begenerated for each egg. The data collected by the egg classifier systemmay be provided to a controller for processing and storing dataassociated with each egg. The controller may then be capable ofgenerating a selectable removal signal to send to the egg grasp devices500 so that individual egg grasp devices 500 (or subsets of egg graspdevices 500) are separately and individually deployed at variouspositions according to the classification status for each egg based onthe data collected by the egg classifier system.

In other instances, the egg processing apparatus 100 may include the eggprocessing head 200 coupled to the frame 110 and configured to movevertically for interacting with eggs contained within an egg flat whenin a removal position beneath the egg processing head 200. The eggprocessing head 200 may be pneumatically or electrically driven to movevertically for facilitating interaction with eggs in the egg flat. Insome instances, the egg processing head 200 may be lowered and raisedpneumatically using a transfer cylinder (not shown) in fluidcommunication with a pneumatic system, as known by those of skill in theart. In some instances, the egg processing head 200 may be capable oflateral or horizontal movement outside the conveyor assembly 112 and/orthe removal position.

In other instances, the egg processing head 200 may be capable ofarcuate movement using, for example, a servo motor. In such instanceswhere the egg processing head 200 is movable, the egg grasp devices 500may be fixed to the egg processing head 200 such that the egg graspdevices 500 are not individually or separately deployed for engaging theeggs. Instead, all eggs in the egg flat would be engaged by the variousegg grasp devices 500 moved by the egg processing head 200. However,when the egg grasp devices 500 are individually or selectivelycontrolled, the egg processing head 200 may still be capable of movementfor various reasons, including transporting the eggs removed from theegg flat to some other location. In some instances, the egg graspdevices 500 may be positioned on a head attached to a frame of a roboticsystem having an articulating robotic arm. The robotic system may have aguidance system configured to position the egg grasp devices 500proximate to the egg for engagement therewith.

As shown in FIG. 8, the egg processing system 100 may be configured toengage or contact eggs for removal thereof from the egg flat using anegg grasp device 500. According to some aspects, the egg grasp device500 may include a sheath 550. In some instances, the sheath 550 mayextend from a body 502, wherein the body 502 acts as a base from whichthe sheath 500 projects. The sheath 550 may have a proximal end 552 atwhich the body 502 or other substrate is attached or engaged. The body502 may be of unitary construction with the sheath 550, while in otherinstances the body 502 may be discrete from the sheath 550. The sheath550 defines a cavity 556 in which the egg is retained such that thesheath 550 itself forms a pseudo protective shell about the egg.

The sheath 550 may be configured to capture an egg using physicalcontact and interaction such that the egg may be seized from the eggflat or other container or surface. In this regard, the sheath 550 mayact in a suctionless or vacuumless manner for capturing eggs. The sheath550 may be capable of deflecting, as shown in FIG. 6, about the egg asthe sheath 550 advances or descends upon the egg such that the eggbecomes seated or secured within the sheath 550. In some instances, theegg may be lifted using the egg grasp device 500 in which the egg issuspended in the sheath against gravity. In this regard, the sheath 550should provide sufficient rigidity to prevent the egg from falling outof the sheath 550 under its own weight and/or when moved. The sheath 550may define an opening 560 through which the egg is passed for seatingwithin the sheath 550. A central axis 510 may be defined by the egggrasp device 500 lengthwise along its longitudinal axis. The opening 560is defined about the central axis 510 and formed at a distal end 554 ofthe sheath 550. The opening 560 may be defined as any number of sizesand shapes. For example, the elongated members 525 may intersect todefine a hexagonally-shaped opening 560, as shown in FIG. 4. In someinstances, the circumference or dimensions of the opening 560 may beless than the circumference of the egg at its widest section (i.e.middle of the egg or midway between the ends). In some instances, theopening 560 may be substantially smaller than the circumference of theegg at the widest section of the egg when vertical.

In some instances, the sheath 550 may be formed of a plurality ofelongated members 525 capable of deflecting about the egg for capturingthe egg and retaining the egg within the sheath 550 without mechanicalactuation of the elongated members 525. According to some aspects, theelongated members 525 may extend or project from the body 502. Theelongated members 525 may be interlaced to form the sheath 550. In thisregard, the term interlaced refers to the overlapping and/orinterweaving of the elongated members 525 so as to form the sheath 550capable of encompassing and retaining the egg. That is, the interlacedelongated members 525 cooperate to form an overlapping sleevearrangement that encircles and surrounds the egg, as shown in FIG. 5.The interlaced elongated members 525 may have various sizes,arrangements, or structures that permit the sheath 550 to seize an eggusing physical contact and engagement therewith as the means forcapturing the egg. Regardless of the form the interlaced sheath 550takes, the egg grasp device 500 may be capable of capturing the egg bymeans of physical contact and without suction. The elongated members 525may extend from the body 502 at a variety of angles such as, forexample, at about five degrees.

According to one aspect, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, the elongated members525 may be loops extending from the body 502 to largely form a U-shape.In this aspect, each elongated member 525 may have a pair of legsegments 530 extending from the body 502 and connected by an arcuatesegment 532. The loop elongated members 525 may be interlaced to formthe sheath 550. The arcuate segments 532 may intersect to form theopening 560 at the distal end 554. The sheath 550 may have a length 565sufficient for receiving eggs of varying size. For example, the length565 may be about 2.75 inches (6.99 cm). As the distal end of the sheath550 interacts with the egg, the arcuate segments 532 physically contactthe egg and advance along the shell contours as the sheath 550encapsulates the egg.

In some instances, each loop elongated member 525 may alternate goingover/under the other loop elongated members 525 it intersects. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 4, elongated member 525 a may go overelongated members 525 c and 525 e and under elongated members 525 b and525 d; elongated member 525 b may go over elongated members 525 a and525 f and under elongated members 525 c and 525 e; elongated member 525c may go over elongated members 525 b and 525 d and under elongatedmembers 525 a and 525 f; elongated member 525 d may go over elongatedmembers 525 a and 525 f and under elongated members 525 c and 525 e;elongated member 525 e may go over elongated members 525 b and 525 d andunder elongated members 525 a and 525 f; elongated member 525 f may goover elongated members 525 c and 525 e and under elongated members 525 band 525 d. In this regard, the interlaced elongated members 525 may bearranged to form an intricate crisscrossing pattern defining the opening560, as viewed from the distal end 554. Since the elongated members 525are interlaced, when the distal end 525 encounters a force (e.g., anegg) the elongated members 525 open up together, as sequentiallyillustrated FIG. 6. That is, when one elongated member 525 starts todeflect and open up, then the adjacent elongated member 525 opens aswell, as similarly seen in nature with a flower (see FIG. 7), due to theinterlacing. In this instance, the elongated members 525 are theso-called petals that are capable of deflecting outward (i.e., blooming)from the central axis 510.

According to some aspects, the elongated members 525 may be formed of apliant, flexible or resilient material so as to allow the sheath 550 todeflect about the egg when coming into contact therewith. The elongatedmembers 525 may be constructed from various materials that exhibit suchdeflective, elastic, or resilient qualities, such as, for example,resilient materials, elastic materials, super-elastic materials,pseudo-elastic materials, and shape memory materials. In some instances,the elongated members 525 may be constructed of a shape-memory material(e.g., shape memory alloy or shape memory polymer) that has the abilityto return from a deformed state (temporary shape) to its original(permanent) shape. In some instances, the shape-memory material mayreturn to its original shape when induced by an external stimulus suchas temperature change. In other instances, the elongated members 525 maybe constructed of a super-elastic alloy (e.g., nickel titanium(nitinol)) that when deformed returns to its pre-deformed shape withoutexternal stimulus. When mechanically loaded, a super-elastic alloydeforms reversibly to very high strains (up to 10%) by the creation of astress-induced phase. When the load is removed, the new phase becomesunstable and the material regains its original shape. Such super-elasticmaterials, pseudo-elastic materials, and shape memory materials providethe benefit of resisting fatigue, an important factor when consideringthe substantial quantity of production eggs processed in hatchery andtable egg industries. Examples of materials suitable for use inaccordance with the present disclosure include, but are not limited to,nitinol, CuZnAl alloys, CuAlNi alloys, and CuAlBe alloys. Further,shape-memory polymers may be suitable for use, such as polyurethanes orblock copolymers (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET),polyethyleneoxide (PEO), etc.) in accordance with the presentdisclosure. In some instances, the elongated members 525 may beconstructed of metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel) or polymercomponents, or combinations thereof. According to one particular aspect,the elongated members 525 may be constructed from a material having anelastic (Young's) modulus of about 7 Mpsi (48 GPa).

In some instances, the elongated members 525 may be in the form ofresilient or flexible wire (metal or polymer strand) wherein the sheath550 is formed of an interlaced pliant wire structure in which to seat orsecure the egg. The interlaced wires deflect around the egg instead ofbreaking through the egg because the wires are thin enough that theybend and yield over the egg surface. The wire may be of any diameterthat allows for the resilient and rigidity functions of the sheath 550.In this regard, the wire diameter may be chosen to allow deflection ofthe elongated members 525 about the egg for capturing the egg, whilealso providing sufficient rigidity such that the egg does not fall outof the sheath 550 under its own weight when seated therein. For example,the elongated members 525 may be six wires cooperating to form thesheath 550, with each wire having a diameter less than about 1.22 mm,and preferably a diameter between about 0.025 inches (0.635 mm) and0.040 inches (1.02 mm), and more preferably a diameter of about 0.032inches (0.813 mm).

Because the wire elongated members 525 are interlaced, the diameter ofthe wire may be less than that would be used for a non-interlacedconfiguration, thereby providing improved flexibility of the sheath 550that allows for capturing eggs of various sizes and shapes andpositioned in various orientations. In other words, the interlacing ofthe elongated members 525 provides an effect in which the egg may beretained within the sheath 550 when using smaller diameter wire thanwould be used for a non-interlaced configuration. The interlaced smallerdiameter wire allows for more deflection of the sheath 550 and a moregentle interaction with the egg, resulting in reduced egg cracking,while still having sufficient rigidity to retain the egg during liftingand/or movement of the egg grasp device 500. In this regard, the numberof interlacing wires and frequency may increase as the wire diameterbecomes smaller and/or longer in order to maintain the gripping forceneeded to retain the egg within the sheath 550. For example, theconfiguration shown in FIG. 9 is illustrative of this concept in whichmore wires, as compared to that shown in FIGS. 2-5, with reduceddiameter are used to form the sheath 550. In some instances, the thinnerwires may be provided in an increased quantity and used to surround orcontain an egg such that the wires are too weak to capture the egg butit allows for the egg to be isolated from neighboring eggs.

While certain specific aspects of the elongated members 525 have beendescribed, it is noted that the present disclosure is not limited tosuch specifics. That is, the elongated members 525 may be constructed ofany suitable material, where the combination of material selection anddegree of interlacing may create the right combination of flexibilityand gripping force. In this regard, the flexibility and grippingperformance may be controlled by the number of interlacing elongatedmembers 525 given the diameter of the wire in such instances. Further,the shape of the elongated members 525 is not limited to the U-shapeshown in FIGS. 2-5. Instead, the elongated members 525 may be of anyshape such as, for example, rectangular or straight wires that may bewoven effectively to create the right combination of flexibility andgripping force to retain an egg. Additionally, the number of elongatedmembers 525 and length thereof may increase or decrease based on theforce required to grip an egg.

Initial engagement with an egg may be based on the natural elasticity ormemory tension of the elongated members 525. In this regard, afterinitial engagement with the egg, the elongated members 525 hold the eggsuch that constant external mechanical tension is not required to retainthe egg within the sheath 550. The elongated members 525 may be capableof bending elastically to accommodate eggs of varying size and shape,and positioned in various orientations, as shown in FIG. 8. In thisregard, the sheath 550 may provide automatic and passive gripping means.The elongated members 525 may follow the contour of the egg to grip theegg as the elongated members 525 are advanced about the egg.

According to some aspects, the egg grasp device 500 may include anactuator capable of advancing the sheath 550 on the egg in order tocapture the egg. The actuator may be a linear actuator such as, forexample, a pneumatically controlled cylinder. In some instances, the eggmay be fully or partially advanced within the sheath 550 while thesheath remains in a stationary position. In instances where the egggrasp devices 500 are selectively controlled, each actuator may becapable of receiving a signal indicating the egg classification statusof respective eggs in the egg flat such that the actuators may beselectively actuated, thereby facilitating engagement or contact ofcertain select egg grasp devices 500 with respective eggs. Byselectively actuating the actuators, interaction of components of theegg grasp device 500 with non-live or otherwise undesirable eggs may beadvantageously avoided.

According to some aspects, the egg grasp device 500 may include arelease device configured to release the egg from the sheath 550. Insome instances, the release device may include a contact portion capableof contacting the egg to force the egg out of engagement with the sheath550. In some instances, the sheath 550 may be constructed ofshape-memory materials in which the release mechanism for releasing eggsmay be accomplished by providing an electrical current or a temperaturechange to the sheath 550 such that the egg is released according to amemory release protocol.

In some instances, as shown in FIG. 8, an egg support assembly 700 maybe provided for raising the eggs from the egg flat 30 such that thesheath 550 is capable of sufficiently advancing to fully seat the eggstherein, without obstruction from the egg flat 30. The egg flat 30 maytypically be open-ended such that each egg receptacle 40 includes a holethrough which the egg may be raised from underneath. In this regard, theeggs may be raised from underneath the egg flat by the egg supportassembly 700, while the egg grasp devices 500 lift and remove the eggsfrom above the egg flat. That is, the egg support assembly 700 mayoperate and be positioned beneath the egg flat, while the egg graspdevices 500 operate and are positioned above the egg flats. In thismanner, the egg support assembly 700 provides support to the eggs suchthat the sheath 550 may be advanced about the eggs for securing thereof.According to some aspects, the egg support assembly 700 may include aplurality of pedestals 710 for individually raising the eggs from eachrespective egg receptacle 40. In this manner, the eggs may be raisedseparately with respect to one another.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 8, an egg flat 30 containing eggs 1 maybe conveyed to the removal position beneath the egg processing head 200.The egg grasp device 500 begins at a fully raised, retracted or ascendedposition. The egg grasp device 500 may then advance or descend to engagethe egg 1 at which point the sheath 550 contacts the egg and begins todeflect. The sheath 550 may be further advanced to a fully descendedposition until the egg 1 is fully seated therein or secured thereto forremoval. As the elongated members 525 engage the egg, the elongatedmembers 525 begin deflecting and conforming to the surface contour ofthe egg. The egg grasp device 500 may then be raised, retracted orotherwise ascended so as to remove the egg 1 from the receptacle 40.Thereafter, the release device may be actuated to contact the egg 1,thereby pushing the egg 1 out of engagement with the sheath 550. Thereleased egg 1 may then be transported or processed accordingly. Asshown in FIG. 8, the interlaced configuration may advantageously providethe flexibility, as previously described, to capture eggs at tiltedorientations where the longitudinal axis of the egg is angled withrespect to the central axis 510 of the egg grasp device 500.

Once captured by the egg grasp device 500, the eggs may be carriedthereby to various processing stations or modules, such as, for example,egg identification, egg removal, egg injection, egg sampling, eggholding, egg heating, egg cleaning or sanitizing, egg stacking, eggsorting, egg backfilling, egg arranging (according to egg flats), eggtransfer, egg sealing, or any other egg processing.

Furthermore, the egg grasp device 500 may advantageously facilitatestraightening of eggs when received therein. That is, eggs orientedoff-axis within the egg flat may be straightened due to the forcesexerted on the egg by the sheath 550 when engaging the egg. It may bedesirable to straighten or vertically align eggs automatically using theegg lifting device 500 for further processing of such eggs. For example,the eggs may be returned to an egg flat for injection of the eggs with atreatment substance in which case it may be desirable to have the eggsvertically aligned along the longitudinal axis of the egg within the eggflat. Still, in other instances, it may be desirable to straighten eggsvertically without the need to capture the eggs. The disclosed sheath550 may also facilitate such an orientating function, as desired. Insuch instances where it is not desirable to actually seize the eggwithin the sheath 550 for transport, the length 565 thereof may bedecreased such that the elongated members 525 do not extend to such adistance along egg, with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, tofully seat the egg, thereby allowing the egg to be straightened by thesheath 550 but not captured.

In addition to straightening, the sheath 550 may be used to surround anegg in order to isolate it from adjacent or neighboring eggs. Further,the sheath 550 may be used to clean surfaces of an egg since any largedebris on the surface of the egg may be mechanically separated by theaction of the elongated members 525 sweeping across the egg surface.

According to one aspect, as shown in FIG. 10, the egg grasp device 500may include a shroud 600 at least partially covering the sheath 550. Theshroud 600 may be a flexible material (e.g., latex or other stretchablefabric) capable of covering the sheath 550. The shroud 600 mayeffectively surround the egg for protecting the egg or neighboring eggsfrom a rotten egg exploding during an egg processing operation, such as,for example, mechanical handling. FIG. 10 illustrates a sequence inwhich an egg is captured by a sheath 550 having a shroud 600. Thestretchable nature of the shroud 600 allows for the shroud 600 to expandas the sheath 550 expands to accommodate the egg captured therein.

According to other aspects of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG.11, a plurality of egg grasp devices 500 may be implemented in an eggremoval system 800 for removing eggs from an egg flat 30 or other eggcarrier. The flexibility of the sheath 550 allows for capturing eggs atvarious angles with decreased risk of breaking shells. To that end, theegg grasp devices 500 may be mounted to a rotatable drum assembly 810rotatably driven by a drive system in direction 805. As the egg graspdevices 500 are rotated, an egg 1 identified for removal comes intoposition via the conveyor assembly 112 proximate to one of the egg graspdevices 500, which is selectively actuated or deployed in a direction815 to engage and capture the egg 1 identified for removal. Uponcapture, the removed egg may be rotated to an ejection position in whichthe egg 1 is selectively ejected from the egg grasp device 500 into adiscard receptacle 820.

Many modifications and other aspects of the present disclosure set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thisdisclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, the egggrasp device 500 may be adapted or modified to rotate so at to rotatethe egg or otherwise orient at various angles with respect to verticalfor achieving a desired purpose such as, for example, manipulating anair cell (air pocket) within the egg for injection or sampling purposes.Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not tobe limited to the specific aspects disclosed and that modifications andother aspects are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation.

That which is claimed:
 1. An egg grasp device, comprising: a body; andat least three elongated members extending from and fixed to the bodyand being interlaced to form a sheath capable of retaining an egg, eachelongated member crossing multiple other elongated members, the sheathhaving a distal end and a proximal end at which the elongated membersare operably engaged with the body, the elongated members cooperating todefine an opening at the distal end through which an egg is receivedwhen the elongated members engage and deflect about an egg such that theegg is seated within the sheath.
 2. An egg grasp device according toclaim 1, wherein each elongated member is formed of a resilientmaterial.
 3. An egg grasp device according to claim 2, wherein eachelongated member is formed of a flexible wire and loop shaped.
 4. An egggrasp device according to claim 1, wherein each elongated member has apair of leg segments extending from the body, and each elongated memberfurther having an arcuate segment connecting the pair of leg segments.5. An egg grasp device according to claim 4, wherein the arcuatesegments cooperate to define the opening.
 6. An egg grasp deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a release device configured torelease the egg from the sheath.
 7. An egg grasp device according toclaim 1, further comprising a shroud at least partially covering thesheath.
 8. A method of securing eggs, the method comprising: Adescending an egg grasp device to interact with an egg, the egg graspdevice having at least three elongated members fixed to a body andinterlaced to form a sheath capable of retaining the egg, each elongatedmember crossing multiple other elongated members, the elongated memberscooperating to define an opening through which the egg is received;contacting the sheath with the egg at the opening; seating the eggwithin the sheath by deflecting the elongated members about the egg; andascending the egg grasp device.
 9. A method according to claim 8,further comprising the step of releasing the egg from the sheath byactuating a release device.
 10. A method according to claim 8, furthercomprising the step of raising the egg from beneath such that the egg iscapable of being seated within the sheath.
 11. An egg processing system,comprising: a head configured to ascend and descend; and a plurality ofegg grasp devices operably engaged with the head, each egg grasp devicehaving at least three elongated members fixed to a body and interlacedto form a sheath capable of retaining an egg, each elongated membercrossing multiple other elongated members, the elongated memberscooperating to define an opening through which the egg is received whenthe elongated members engage and deflect about an egg such that the eggis seated within the sheath.